Captain Babar Azam broke a battling century with incredible help from opener Abdullah Shafique Tuesday as Pakistan foiled Australia’s expectations of a speedy success in the second Test in Karachi. Set an overwhelming 506-run target, Azam thumped his 6th Test century – – and second against Australia – – to direct Pakistan to 192-2 and raise any expectations of an unrealistic triumph, or even a battling draw. At the nearby Azam was unbeaten on 102 and Shafique 71 as the pair added 171 for the third wicket, leaving the host group requiring one more 314 runs in the 90 overs of the last day for a success, or bat out three meetings for the draw.
Pakistan lost Imam-ul-Haq (one) and Azhar Ali (six) preceding Shafique and Azam drove the fightback, leaving Australia wicketless in the last meeting – – regardless of requiring the second new ball after 80 overs.
Azam top-edged a range off spinner Mitchell Swepson towards short fine-leg for two to arrive at the three-figure mark, his first in quite a while since his 143 against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi in February 2020. Azam’s hundred came in a short time with 12 limits. Shafique was pretty much as strong as his captain, having up to this point hit four limits and a six as he and Azam batted rebelliously for 265 minutes.
No group has at any point pursued more than the 418-7 that West Indies did against Australia at Antigua in 2003, while Pakistan’s most elevated effective pursue was 377 against Sri Lanka at Pallekele in 2015. Australia, continuing their second innings at 81-1, batted for only 26 minutes toward the beginning of play to add 16 runs prior to pronouncing on 97-2.
The guests scored 556-9 pronounced in their first innings then, at that point, excused Pakistan for 148. The host group had trusted Azhar would secure the second innings yet the senior batsman was caught lbw by Cameron Green while attempting to avoid a short-pitched conveyance.
Azhar decided not to audit as he walked off but rather was passed on to think twice about it as TV replays showed he had gloved the ball. At 21-2, Australia appeared to have the upper edge and were hoping to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series yet their endeavors were obstructed by a sluggish turning pitch and the splendor of Pakistan’s batting pair.
Australia might have had Shafique on 20 yet the accomplished Steve Smith spilled a direct catch in the sneaks off pacer Pat Cummins. Regardless of breaks on the National Cricket Stadium pitch, Australian spinners Nathan Lyon and Swepson neglected to get horrible turn. Prior, Haq and Shafique were all watchfulness as it took them until the fifth over to score the primary run, before Lyon struck.
The in-structure Haq, who scored 100 in every innings of the attracted first Test Rawalpindi, was caught lbw for one as he neglected to interface with a sliding conveyance. Prior, Marnus Labuschagne was bowled off a sharp Shaheen Shah Afridi conveyance for 44 to provoke captain Cummins to call the innings to a nearby with first-innings century-producer Usman Khawaja, who was brought into the world in Pakistan, staying 44 not out. Australia are on their first visit through Pakistan starting around 1998, having recently would not visit the country due to security fears.
.@babarazam258 celebrates 🎉 #BoysReadyHain l #PAKvAUS pic.twitter.com/P8pFX3SW8P
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) March 15, 2022